Strange Google icons

[hurlimann]

Getting some very stange icons from Google.com but not on Google.co.uk.

Is this some sort of hack going on?

http://www.google.com/images/res1.gif

[kapow]

Im getting a similar image problem on an inhouse website (nothing to do with Google) - is this a virus that anyone is aware of? I started this separate thread:
[webmasterworld.com...]

[KineticProgrammer]

I was gonna post this message a few days ago, but I was too busy, not to mention that I had to register too.

Well, well, well - guess what, I'm with NTL too, which means I can join the long list of people suffering from this problem also.

I have several machines on a LAN, and was horrified when I discovered the Google glitches on my machine. I immediately thought it was a local virus, and was absolutely dumb founded when the problem appeared on the other machines, including my server.

I spent hours tracking down the virus, even lost faith in Norton and McAfee anti-virus packages. I guessed it had to be NTL or Google's UK server. Having read the various accounts on this forum, my conclusion appears to be correct.

Furthermore to my findings, since the discovery of this problem, my machine has locked up twice - still researching to figure whether explorer has been corrupted.

Hmmmm...I wonder if NTL would reimburse me for time wasted trying to sort this problem out.

[KineticProgrammer]

Incidently, the problem persists. NTL haven't got their act together yet and it's almost been two weeks since the problem was first discovered. Great turnaround, NTL!

No wonder they have financial issues: bad management and customers leaving in their droves, and I may be one of them soon.

[aspdaddy]

Anyone getting this problem on Netscape or Opera?

[nemeswormwood]

I use Linux with Mozilla and Konquerer. Both browser display the flags so I doubt its anything to do with our software.

I use NTL 0800 dialup service.

Regards

Nemes

BTW: I'm glad I found this thread, I actually posted on a Linux help site thinking it was a bug...

[Kevin]

Read the post. I'm confused. I'm on NTL broadband and haven't seen this happen nor have any of my associates across the UK (Notice I didn't say English ). Has anyone found out a definitive answer as to why this is happening?

[PanUK]

Netscape also shows flags.

[NFFC]

>I'm on NTL broadband

Is that a cable or adsl service?

It's not the ISP, it's the Inktomi cache at "fault".

[chris_f]

I've just completed an indepth analysis. My findings are:

I can guarentee 100% this is NOT a virus. I just rebuilt a test machine and took a image of the system. I connected through NTL and the problem was there I connected through another provider and it cleared it. I took another drive image and there was a difference of zero bits (after doing a TIF and cookie adjustment).

Also, I have tried serveral ISP's and only the ones listed above produce the error.

---

I have come up with two possible solutions.

1. The ISP's clear their cache then change their software.

2. Google rename all their images and alter their code accordingly. Note: they would not be able to keep current copies of the images in the same location as the ISP caching software would still look up the old images.

Chris

[webboy1]

Just thought i would ad my bit in.....

We are getting flags as well and we use AOL. I am on NTL at home , but have only encountered the flags once there.

Just another comment to ad, which is probably just sheer coincidence. Some of the software on my machine has started playing up and crashing for no particular reason. I have also noticed that jpgs within word documents, which have been on my machine for months just suddenly don't appear anymore.

Again, i know this is probably just coincidence, but i thought i should mention it anyway.

[shewhoguards]

I'm getting it *raises hand*

0800 NTL dialup, using Google.com - the whole logo is just one nig argentinian flag.

[chris_f]

Just got word from a friend at NTL. You may have noticed that Google has been unreliable this weekend if you were using the connection that sees the flags. This was NTL attempting to fix the problem.

Overall it good news

[6]The Problem Is Fixed[/6]

Chris.

[hurlimann]

Not here! Recently it has started to affect adwords as well and "Google" ( top left) has become a pixalised "ogo".

[webboy1]

I noticed at the weekend that i was no longer seeing flags via my AOL conection. However i have just come into work, which uses and AOL connection, to find that the flags still appear.

The problem may be fixed with NTL, but it is most definetly not fixed on AOL.

[chris_f]

When I get home (about 5pm GMT) I'll double check that they haven't reappeared. I was reassured by a trustworthy friend and I did check. I try to find out more info. In the meantime are there any NTL customers still seeing the flags?

Chris.

[Scoid]

Cleared out browser cache.

No more dodgy graphics or flags!

(NTL Cable Modem)

[chris_f]

Thought so. Thanks for checking Scoid.

Chris.

[chris_f]

Additional:

<sarcasm> Nice one NTL </sarcasm>

Well at least that fix lasted all of ... well ... did it last 5 seconds? The flags are back.

Chris.

[webboy1]

As much as i question the service that a lot of ISP's provide, i have to say that although some claim that NTL have not fixed their problem, i have not came across the flags since Friday night/Saturday Morning.

Just thought i would highlight the fact that amongst all the gumff floating around in web-land......perhaps NTL had a decent spell..........for a change!

webboy

[bonzibudy]

Maybe this is old news but i used 2 pcs at 2 locations in the UK yesturday both using AOL as the ISP and all of the logos were flags?

[chris_f]

NTL have fixed the flags again. Yippie. Let's see how long this lasts.

Sweepstake
----------
0.001 seconds
2.3 seconds
5 minutes
2 hours
16 days
4 months

(yeah right! will NTL still have a broadband service in 0.001 let alone one that works properly).

Chris.